film criticism by maryann johanson | handcrafted since 1997
That’s the only way to explain it. In the U.K. last weekend, people flocked to see Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa, and not so much else: 1. Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa: £6.3 million (NEW) 2. Four Christmases: £1.5 million (2nd week; drops 34%) 3. Transporter 3: £.96 million (NEW) 4. Changeling: £.721 million (2nd week; drops … more…
It’s another holiday tradition: the weekend after Thanksgiving is typically one the movies take a breather over, and that tradition held true. Neither of the new wide releases made much of a showing, and in fact, except for Australia and Quantum of Solace swapping spots, the lineup looks the same as last weekend: 1. Four … more…
Looks like Vince Vaughn and Reese Witherspoon are mightier than James Bond on both sides of the Atlantic: 1. Four Christmases: £2.3 million (NEW) 2. Quantum of Solace: £1.5 million 3. Changeling: £1.2 million (NEW) 4. Body of Lies: £.5 million (2nd week; drops 48%) 5. My Best Friend’s Girl: £.3 million (2nd week; drops … more…
Late this week. This is what I get for deciding I’d rather be right than first with the box office numbers — which means waiting till Monday afternoon when the actual numbers come in rather than jumping in as soon as the weekend estimates appear on Sunday. Which means if I’m totally otherwise occupied with … more…
It’s still all about James Bond at the British box office: 1. Quantum of Solace: £2.9 million (4th week; drops 44%) 2. Body of Lies: £.99 million (NEW) 3. My Best Friend’s Girl: £.91 million (NEW) 4. High School Musical 3: Senior Year: £.6 million (5th week; drops 38%) 5. Zack and Miri Make a … more…
The holiday weekend started early this year. These are the kinds of numbers we usually see over a long weekend, when kids are off from school and adults are off from work and everyone’s in a mood to see a movie, not a regular ol’ weekend, and particularly one over which, you might think, people … more…
They love 007 on his home turf: 1. Quantum of Solace: £5.2 million (3rd week; drops 44%) 2. Max Payne: £1 million (NEW) 3. High School Musical 3: Senior Year: £.98 million (4th week; drops 36%) 4. Zack and Miri Make a Porno: £.8 million (NEW) 5. Ghost Town: £.6 million (4th week; drops 17%) … more…
James Bond is burning up the U.S./Canadian box office just like he has been all around the world. What a shock: 1. Quantum of Solace: $67.5 million (NEW) 2. Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa: $35 million (2nd week; drops 45%) 3. Role Models: $11. million (2nd week; drops 42%) 4. High School Musical 3: Senior Year: … more…
We can only blame *Casino Royale.* The 2006 reboot of James Bond was so brilliant, so satisfying, so organically of the moment that it could only prove hard to top, and even hard to equal.
New films stayed out of the way of Quantum of Solace at British multiplexes this past weekend, which looks to have been a wise move: 1. Quantum of Solace: £9.2 million (2nd week; drops 40%) 2. High School Musical 3: Senior Year: £1.5 million (3rd week; drops 45%) 3. Ghost Town: £.71 million (3rd week; … more…
